Gone are the days when volunteers with a passion for social service could easily rise to the top at nonprofit organizations. Today, as funders seek greater accountability and demand for social services spikes, nonprofit managers are finding they must boost their business skills to run their organizations effectively. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Sales and Marketing Advice for Florida business How to build a community around your customers

Can you think of anything better than to have your customers actively promote your company? Better yet, imagine customers going out of their way to influence others in their markets on your behalf. No, it’s not a flight of fantasy -- you too can have your customers become passionate advocates by building a community around them. Read Ron Stein's full column.

French luxury brand expanding stateside from Palm Beach

Business Profile

Silly Farm Supplies

Heather Green's friends were constantly asking her how to do cat or football face paintings. So the owner of the Silly Farm Supplies, a face and body art supply store in Davie, turned to YouTube and uploaded a series of videos shot in her store. That was five years ago. Since then "Silly Heather's Face Painting Tutorials" have had more than 4.7 million views, boosted her sales and gotten her invited to teach at schools and other events around the world.

As the spring and summer line of Vicomte-A comes out salmons and light turquoises, the French brothers who established the brand in Paris and Palm Beach continue to expand. It’s an interesting proposition when the founding U.S. store is still 500 square feet. More at the Palm Beach Post.

Numbers game for Citizens

Ranging from who should be covered to how its claims should be paid, lawmakers face a herculean task in reforming Citizens Property Insurance Corp. The company is the country's ninth-largest home insurer, but Citizens is different from the other insurers in the top 10. Its risk is concentrated all in one state. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Small Business Advice Let staff have some decision-making authority

Many entrepreneurs spend so much of their time working in the business rather than working on the business. As Michael Gerber said in E-Myth, “If your business depends on you, you don’t own a business — you have a job! The business owner should be devoted to business development, not doing business.” Read Jerry Osteryoung's full column.

Out of the Box Alley Art Aims to Revive Neighborhood

They are taking matters into their own hands. Armed with shovels, bulldozers and art, residents of the Osceola Park neighborhood are trying to fight crime by reclaiming their alleys. "There were a lot of improvements the city promised our neighborhood," said James Quillian, president of Delray's Osceola Park Neighborhood Association. "Some of them were the most basic that would improve the quality of life. But they never came." Quillian is the man behind the Art in the Alley program, which he started three years ago. Full story from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.